1.2 Strategic Planning

Reflection:The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis artifact was created for my ITEC 7410 Technology Leadership and Vision in Schools course during the summer 2014 semester. It presents the current reality of technology implementation at my school. To conduct this SWOT analysis, I collected data pertaining to ISTE’s Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012) for effective technology implementation, summarized my school’s strengths and weaknesses, and made recommendations for how my school could strengthen each essential condition. I used the information gathered to devise a one-year action plan for technology implementation. Information collected through my SWOT analysis and action plan were shared with administrators at my school.

In addition to creating this artifact, I have experience serving as a member of The Schenck School Strategic Planning Committee. This experience demonstrates my ability to facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. In August 2012, The Schenck School began designing and developing a new five-year strategic plan. An outside consultant was hired to assist the school in this process. The first step to design and develop the strategic plan was creating a committee representing all stakeholders in the community. The committee consisted of twenty members, including school administrators, teachers, parents, board members, and community members. We met monthly from September to December of 2012. During this time, we created a vision for the school that supported our mission and completed a SWOT analysis. By January, the committee had developed four main goals, and subgroups formed to focus on each goal. I was part of the subgroup which developed the goal relating to technology within the plan. This subgroup was comprised of eight members who met through monthly meetings and collaborated within Google Docs from January to April 2013.

In June 2013, the work of the Strategic Planning Committee was completed, and the results were communicated to the school community. First, a presentation was given to the Board of Trustees by the independent consultant who led the strategic planning process. All members of the Strategic Planning Committee attended this meeting and answered questions asked by board members. Then, the strategic plan was shared with faculty and staff during a pre-planning meeting in August. Finally, a large event was held on the school campus in the fall to communicate the final strategic plan to the wider school community.

Several of the steps relating to the technology goal within the strategic plan have already been implemented. First, the plan recommended a technology assessment conducted by an independent organization to determine the school’s needs. This took place in early 2014. Another way the plan has been implemented was to redesign the way technology skills were delivered to students. Beginning in August 2013, the technology teacher stopped delivering direct instruction in technology skills and now works with teachers to integrate technology into their lessons. Finally, the strategic plan suggested the creation of a Technology Planning Committee to develop a formal vision and action plan for technology integration at The Schenck School. This step has been implemented since the committee began meeting in September 2014.

The technology goal of the strategic plan is being evaluated in several ways. One way the technology goal is being evaluated is by surveying teachers at the end of each school year. This data is used to guide professional learning offerings for the following year. In addition, discussions between teachers and principals are used to evaluate how technology is being implemented within the classrooms. Teacher observations conducted by administrators also help evaluate the level of technology integration.

Both my experience on the Strategic Planning Committee and the work that went into this artifact helped me better understand the entire process of creating a technology plan. It seems like a large task to create a five year plan for technology use at a school, but when you understand the steps involved it makes the process seem much more manageable. Completing a SWOT analysis is an important step and one that should be completed early in the process. It allows your institution to identify areas of weakness and also opportunities you may not have recognized. While I found this experience valuable, I feel the SWOT analysis I completed for class could be improved with the addition of more data sources. Since I completed this analysis during summer semester, I did not have the opportunity to survey faculty. I feel this would have provided valuable data, which would have enhanced the artifact. I also would have liked to interview principals and other administrators to collect more data for this document.

Strategic planning impacts school improvement, faculty development, and student learning because it provides direction for a school and identifies clear steps to achieve goals. The SWOT analysis is an important component of any strategic planning process. Through this analysis, The Schenck School Strategic Planning Committee was able to identify goals that addressed weaknesses within the school while taking advantage of opportunities and minimizing threats. Measuring the goals within the plan can assess the impact of the strategic plan.